Participation And Performance of Female Students In Science And Mathematics Streams: The Case of Awassa College of Teacher Education

Abstract:

This study attempted to examine the participation and performance of female students in
science and mathematics streams in Awassa College of Teacher Education. Descriptive
survey deign was employed for this study. To gather the required data, four sets of
questionnaires were used. A total number of 190 subjects, that include, college
instructors (N=23), high school teachers (N=42) and college students (N=125)
participated in the study. In addition to this, data on the total student enrollment in the
college during the last seven years and their cumulative GPAs were secured through
document analysis.
Findings regarding participation revealed that very few females were found to be
interested in science and mathematics, while the large majority (65%) was enrolled in
language stream. As a result, a glaring gender imbalance was clearly observed in
science and mathematics streams.
Results on achievement suggested that, female students in science and non-science
streams achieved significantly lower than their respective male counter parts. A 0.05
significant level was used for comparison of means. However, the mean cumulative GPA
of females in Science (J.1= 2.44) is found to be slightly higher than the mean cumulative
GPA of females in non-science streams (J.1=2.39).
As to gender based factors, evidences indicate that home factors which include parental
attitude and domestic labor seems to affect females' attitude and performance in the
fields. Factors in the school environment that include gender stereotyped perceptions of
subjects and the resulting gender specific views about talents in subject areas appear to
be major factors that hinder females to participate in science and mathematics streams .
To increase females' participation in science and mathematics streams, changing the
gendered environment of schools, offering counseling and guidance to female students
so as to improve their attitude and perception toward science and mathematics subjects
are among the recommendations forwarded